AC turning on and off every few minutes? Here's why

What's causing it

• Dirty air filter or coil. Restricted airflow makes the system overheat and shut off, then restart — the most common and cheapest cause.
• Frozen evaporator coil. Ice trips the system off and on. Often starts with a dirty filter or low refrigerant.
• Low refrigerant / a leak. The system can't hold a steady cycle and keeps cutting out.
• Thermostat problems. Bad placement (in direct sun or near a vent), dying batteries, or a failing thermostat can misread the temperature.
• An oversized unit. An AC that's too big for the home cools too fast, shuts off, and repeats — common with poorly-sized replacements.
• Electrical (capacitor/relay). A weak capacitor can cause the compressor to start and stall.

Check these first

• Replace the air filter if it's dirty.
• Make sure the thermostat isn't in direct sun or above a vent; swap its batteries.
• Clear debris from the outdoor unit so it can breathe.
• Look for ice on the indoor coil or lines — if frozen, turn cooling off/fan on to thaw.

Not sure which it is? Run the free troubleshooter →

Handy parts to keep around

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